UAE registers first ever win against a test playing nation

United Arab Emirates (UAE) levelled the T20 series against New Zealand on August 19th with a convincing 7 wicket victory over the Blackcaps with more than 4 overs to spare. It should however be noted that many key players such as Devon Conway, Kane Williamson and Matt Henry were missing from New Zealand’s playing 11.

UAE won the toss and put New Zealand to bat. The New Zealand innings did not get off to a good start with the side having lost 3 wickets within the powerplay and the3 4th wicket shortly afterwards. Mark Chapman’s 46-ball 63 offered some respite for the kiwis in the middle overs but with little support from the other end, they managed to only get to 142 at the loss of 8 wickets at the end of their 20 overs.

Aayan Afzal Khan, who was later on adjudged as the Man of the Match, picked up 3 top order wickets. He was well supported by Muhammad Jawadulah who picked up 2 wickets for just 16 runs in his 4 overs.

After losing a wicket early on, UAE never seemed to be in trouble, with Muhaamad Waseem’s 55 and Asif Khan’s 48 taking them to a comfortable win. 

UAE played their first game against a test nation in 1994, when they lost by 71 runs to India in the Austral-Asia Cup. It is after 29 years that they have registered a win against a test playing nation other than Ireland and Afghanistan.